Design Studio Blog

Menu

Early 21st century timepiece back in fashion.

We got our hands on an upcoming device that looks very interesting to us. It’s called 2K64 and it’s a cool retro style time telling accessory that covers elements from different centuries.

There is this long, vertical LCD display which is based upon a so called “analog watch”. On such a watch, the twelve hours were aligned in a circle, next to five minute increments.

In the early 21st century, this method was already outdated but still used and it worked with mechanical watch hands, pointing at the relevant numbers.

The LCD display of the 2K64 is quite a diversion to all these holograms and eye implants these days. It’s really there and easy to read. If you have studied analog watches, you’ll recognise the positions of the display’s lighted parts.

The big hollow marker, represents the hour while the thin and solid markers show the minutes. There are mostly more than one of these minute markers visible. The first one always indicates the current five minute increment while the following ones need to be added up to get the exact minute.

This reminds us a bit of the AUDI Sky Class from 2055 which has similar liftoff backlights. In the centre of the display there are some optional retro style LED numbers and letters telling the date. The display is embedded in a chrome shell which itself raises from a leather strap. You see nothing like this anymore today. The way how to close the strap might seem complicated but it fits well in the whole image. We think, the ruling Green Party might wrinkle their foreheads at the usage of leather due to the animal protection laws of 2041. But a leather imitation would work very well too.

The 2K64 is a fashionable piece of design for people who like to wear classy accessories that also cover a function. Our android fellows might lack in nostalgia but they have a history database and do know style and irony. We’re curious about how the 2K64 will be received after its release.

Nice one, Sam. Why didn’t TF put your name at the top of the page? Took me a while to figure it out. I’m still not sure if I’m taken to it. It’s not an instant “gimme gimme gimme,” but I could warm to it. Still…5*!

I think leather strap would be made separately from the case in any way so it could be repurchased from Tokyoflash and reapplied. But that’s such a far away problem now. It’s okay if you’re not having the omgomg feeling DZ, that’s life. I’m interested in so different things, I won’t land a hit everytime (as we say in Germany). But you see potential, yoohoo :D And about the name: Tokyoflash gave a little declaration down there. Thank you for your comment DZ!

OMG guys! First of all, I do like when a watch can be scratched. My stainless steel 12-5-9 L has scratches and actually some small stains too and looks great that way. It earned every little flaw in the last years. Forget chrome, use steel! And then seeing Firefly mentioned here ist so cool ♥ (humming the title song) I liked the used tech look in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Hi Toky, nice to see you around! I had the case shape and the time reading sytem ready, finished the watch as I imagined it in my head and then I thought about adding piece of cake info for those who like. From here, I could go the extreme way to pure sci-fi-ness by leaving the letters and numbers away, adding a ring for the seconds and keeping the middle free. Or the other way, adding numbers for time telling and letting the ring be unfunctional space for fun.

Ow yeah, a gunmetal version with silver cased display would look robolicious hehe. Among all soft straps, leather is the best I think. It’s just meant to be worn as a belt like accesoir combined with chrome. Just a feeling :)

I personally like the leather (or faux leather for those against real leather) adds a certain retro-futuristic charm. Its like a future prospector’s device, space colonist etc. If a metal strapped version was invisaged I think it should be distressed steel, with battle scars etc to show its future historical condition. :D

Thanks Toky! the good ideas always seem to be for other peoples designs! lol
Yeah Firefly is the perfect example, future steampunk almost.
Nice to see the rating creep up to where it should be for this design! :D

Thank you for your thoughts Makk. I like the leather band more too, it’s lighter, comfortable and leather… looks so cool! Hehe, binary is a bigger challenge that’s true. But if you see a way to improve a design, you can tell. I also made a binary concept. We just don’t (can’t) address everyone with a concept when we try to do different things. ^^

The current method is good. Binary is more complex because there is not 2 lights with the same value when, in this watch, the 1st is 5 and the rest are 1 each. I rarely wear my binary watch and don’t think I’m going to buy another one.

Aha, so so, leather hm? I see, it’s loved and less loved here and there. Controversy is good :D I’m glad that the time telling wasn’t much an issue as well as the (extremely cool) shape of the case. Thank you everybody for sharing your thoughts and for supporting this concept!